"Arrest NRM Supporters Over Kawempe Loss" Museveni Advised After Faridah Nambi's Brutal Loss

Presidential advisor Catherine Kusasira has stirred controversy by urging President Yoweri Museveni to arrest National Resistance Movement (NRM) supporters after the party’s crushing defeat in the Kawempe North by-election.

Faridah Nambi, NRM’s candidate, suffered a brutal loss to the National Unity Platform’s (NUP) Elias Nalukoola.

The defeat has raised fresh questions about NRM's influence in Kampala, especially with the 2026 general elections drawing closer.

In a passionate video statement, Kusasira blamed the loss on ineffective mobilisation and alleged embezzlement of Parish Development Model (PDM) funds meant to boost grassroots support.

She accused local party leaders of misrepresenting the NRM’s popularity to the President.

“How can NRM get only 20 votes at a polling station? Where is the PDM money going? It seems these funds are being shared among friends and relatives who don't even live there,” Kusasira lamented.

She argued that the poor performance signaled a leadership failure and called for the dismissal and arrest of all NRM mobilisers in Kawempe.

"People are deceiving the President into thinking voters support him. All party chairpersons in the area should be dismissed," she stated.

Nalukoola won with 17,764 votes against Nambi’s 8,593. The election saw heavy security deployment and reports of journalist harassment, adding to the tension surrounding the outcome.

Kusasira’s remarks have sparked debate about whether the NRM leadership will heed her call or dismiss it as political theatrics.